County governments and conservation nonprofit groups may apply for grant funding from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for farmland preservation projects. Applicants have until Dec. 18 to apply.“Investments in farmland preservation are more important than ever,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “In the face of population growth and development pressure, these grants are critical in preserving North Carolina’s agricultural economy and ensuring food security for future generations.”
Press Releases
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was awarded $6.3 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to place conservation easements on farms in the Upper Neuse River Basin. This project was funded through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division has collected fines from eight stores in eight counties because of excessive price-scanner errors.
The N.C. State Fair is honoring farm families again this year through its Farm Family of the Dayprogram, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. The program is returning for its third year to recognize and celebrate more of the state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families behind the $103.2 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.
WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Plant Conservation Scientific Committee will discuss conservation program updates and the opportunity to incorporate plant species into the State Wildlife Action Plan. WHEN:Thursday, Sept. 21, 1 to 4 p.m.
Skip the line and save money by grabbing your 2023 North Carolina State Fair tickets in advance at a discounted price. The Fair runs Oct. 12-22 and fairgoers can buy admission tickets, ride tickets and unlimited ride wristbands for a discounted price at three locations around Raleigh.• Gate 9 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds (off Trinity Road) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.• State Farmers Market ticket booth (between the Farmers Building and MarketShoppes) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.• N.C. Museum of History lobby (on weekdays only) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Following is a list of winners in the N.C. Mountain State Fair livestock shows held Sept. 12-17:Llama Performance Champions Show – Sept. 12Sub-Junior PerformanceChampion – Kimber Abendroth, Henderson CountyJunior Performance Champion – Emmalyn Munsey, Henderson CountyIntermediate Performance Champion – Aniyah Bechdel, Henderson CountySenior Performance Champion – Randi Mae Eatmon, Transylvania CountyYouth Poultry Show – Sept. 14
N.C. State Fair visitors should bring an appetite for fun with four new amusement rides,two new grounds entertainers and over 30 new food items being part of the stellar lineup planned Oct. 12-22 in Raleigh.RidesNew rides range from the elegantly beautiful two-tiered Venetian Carousel to the high voltage thrills of Tesla AC, which is capped offed with six brightly lit lightning bolts hovering above two-person cars that attach to spinning and dipping arms.
As North Carolina transitions to the fall, the N.C. Forest Service is reminding the public to be careful, ready and responsible when burning outdoors. Typically, wildfires occur more frequently from October through early December. Outdoor fires left unattended can get out of hand quickly, becoming wildfires that threaten lives and property. In 2022, there were nearly 6,400 wildfires that burned more than 24,000 acres in North Carolina, 99% of which were human caused.
Local winners took home $900 in prize money for winning recipes in contests sponsored by the N.C. Egg Association and N.C. Dairy Producers Association at the Mountain State Fair.Amy Braman (pictured above left) of Pisgah Forest earned first-place honors and $200 with her elote (Mexican street corn) frittata recipe, finishing ahead of Sharon Gates of Leicester who took home $150 and second place for her deluxe pizza frittata recipe. Jennifer Currie of Clyde earned $100 and third place for her Dear Me, This is Gouda breakfast frittata recipe.